The ArchDuke is inspired by the
many examples of the two-handed
swords carried by European knightss of the late 13th and 14th centuries.

The ArchDuke, like many other companions in the Next Generation Line, is not based on one single individual sword. Over the past few years Peter has made a special effort to document great swords of type XIIa and XIIIa during his research trips to museums and private collections.

Peter's impressions and the collected body of data has been the basis for this design. While the ArchDuke can be described as a generic example of its type, its handling characteristics, its heft and dynamic properties are like that of authentic well-preserved examples of the family.

It is big and massive, but has a smooth and appealing heft.

The hexagonal cross section of the blade is pretty common for the really big type XIIa and XIIIa swords of the late 13th and 14th centuries. Double fullers are less common but not unheard of.

Since we had a large type XIIIa blade developed for the 16th century two handers, it seemed such a waste not to offer a good high medieval "Grete Twa-hond Swerd" using that same blade.
The ArchDuke's blade design post-dates Oakeshott's typology range,
which stops at the tapering multiple-fullered blades of Type XXII. Similar
to the long examples of Type XX, XXI and XXII blades, the ArchDuke
blade is long, double-edged and has two fullers, but has a very gradual
profile taper and the fullers extend further down the blade.A Limited Edition Hand Crafted Collectible SwordThis sword
is offered in a limited edition of only 500 collectible swords
worldwide.